I want to use Aptik to save all my settings and installs of Mint 18.2 *KDE* and then fresh install to MINT 18.3 Cinnamon (IOW, change from KDE to Cinnamon). Will I run into problems with Aptik restoring my stuff?

Your assumption is correct. The hint for a beta version is in the file name of the download - but even that is not so important, because after updating the system you get the current release. Indeed, if you use the iso-file for investigating into the live system before installing, the beta version will surely include bugs, which are fixed in the final release.

OK, that makes me think maybe I should uninstall and reinstall for my wine did not "disappear" in the upgrade, so it seemed like I did not have to reinstall it, but my one application I run in Wine, will not run anymore... so it looks like the older wine hung around and I have to uninstall and reinstall.